Filling for cushions and the like.



B. H. BLOCKSOM. FILLING FOR CUSHIONS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2 1917.

Patented Nov. 27,1917

UNITED %TATE% PATEN T @FFTQE.

IBERGET BLQCKSOIVI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WILSON 6; 00.,

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INQ, 0F

FILLING FOR CUSHIONS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 2?, 3191?.

Application filed June 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,392.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERGET H. BLooKsoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fillings for Cushions and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fillings for cushions and the like in the form of a bat of interstitched hair and has for its object the provision of means therein to increase the tensional strength of the material and to prevent separation of the hair.

Further ob ects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in .which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a section of my reinforced hair bat, illustrating the material in a somewhat conventional manner, but as nearly exact as possible in a pen and ink drawing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the material; and

Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation of an interstitching needle.

Referring to the drawing 5 indicates generally a bat, block or slab of interstitched hair. Interstitched hair bats are formed by spreading the hair in a layer. of uniform depth on .a suitable support and working a needle having a notched or hooked end through the mass to draw hairs from one side through the layer, thereby binding it into a more or less coherent mass.

This material is largely employed as a filling for cushions of various kinds and particularly those provided in automobiles. llt advantageously replaces the loose hair with which cushions were formerly stuffed, providing a more even filling so that the cushion retains its original shape longer and is more comfortable than when stufied with loose hair. The cushions may, moreover, be filled with greater facility than is possible with loose hair. Unfortunately the material has very little tensional strength and, therefore, when formed into a cushion,

the edges of which are confined, is liable to separate at the center.

My invention is designed to overcome this tendency by incorporating with the bat means capable of withstanding the tensional strains to which the material is subjected in use. The means is preferably the burlap 6 although any suitable material capable of withstanding tensional strains may be substituted therefor. The burlap may be applied to one or both faces of the bat or may be interposed between two layers thereof. It is incorporated with the hair by the interstitching process, the hair 7 being drawn through the burlap by the needle 8, as indicated in Fig. 2, during the formation of the bat so that the burlap becomes a unitary part of the finished bat.

By this means I am enabled to provide a bat of hair which has relatively great ten-,

sional strength in the directions of its length and breadth so that all tendency of the bat to separate when subjected to pulling strains is efi'ectively overcome. Because of the coherence of the product and its relatively great strength it may be inserted in spring cushions in direct contact with the springs.

My reinforced bat retains all of the advantages peculiar to interstitched hair bats and in addition provides the desirable tensional strength whereby the material is made to retain its shape under strain, thus becoming more durable and in every respect more satisfactory in use than interstitched hair bats as heretofore known.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A filling for cushions and the like comprising a slab of loose curled hair and a reinforcing sheet, portions of the hair extending through the reinforcing sheet and connecting togetherthe slab and the sheet.

2. A filling for cushions and the like comprising a slab of loose curled hair and a re inforcing sheet on one face thereof, porheir extending through the burlap and contions of the hair extending through the renecting together the burlap and the slab inforcing sheet and connecting together the of hair.

slab and the sheet. BERGET H. BLOCKSOM.

3. A filling for cushions and the like com- Witnesses: prising a slab of loose curled hair and a re- W. R. BROWN, inforcing sheet of burlap, portions of the A. R, BLAIR. 

